Apparatus and process for distilling and treating coal and other carbonaceous materials



Nov. 13, 1934. |.As. REED ET AL 1,980,828

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR DISTILLING AND TREATING GOAL AND OTHER cARBoNACEoUs .MATERIALS Filed Jan. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il Q ATTORNEYS' Nov. 13, 1934. H. s. REED Er AL APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR DISTILLING .AND 'TREATING COAL AND OTHER `CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS v Filed Jan. 15. 1932 2 Sheets-SheetI Patented ov. 13, 1934 ArnARA'rUs AND PROCESS Fon Dlsrrum AND TREATING coAL ANno'rnEn CAR- BoNAcEoUs MATERIALS y Harry S. Reedand Ralph Y Mich D. Lamie,A East Lansing,

Application January 15, 1932, Serial No. 586,"156

11 Claims. (Cl. 202-28) 'I'he objects of the invention are: First, to provide an apparatus for lowv temperature distillation and complete gasiilcation and utilization of coal, or other carbonaceous material.

Second, to provide a self-contained complete distilling and converting apparatus for coal or similar carbonaceous material.

Third, to provide means in a continuous proc- 19 ess for distilling coal or carbonaceous material in a closed retort whereby the volatile portion is driven oli and utilized and the solid portion delivered hot to a hopper or other apparatus.

. Fourth, to` provide an improved apparatus and process especially adapted to distilling and treating Brazilian coal or other low grade coal.A

Objects pertaining to details and economies or construction will appear from the description to follow. A preferred form ofthe apparatus and means by which we carry out our improved process is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

' in which:

Figs. 1, lA show a general view, largely in vertical longitudinal section, of the distillingapparatus with parts of the casings brokenaway to show theinterior arrangement of the retort, sectioned on a line corresponding to line l-l of Figs. 3 and 4.

- Fig. 2 is an.enlarged view of the discharge 30 chamber coke seal and hot coke i'eeder'delivering hot coke to the gas producer, being an enlargement'in detail ot parts appearing in said Figs.

i and 1A. l

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3 3 85 of Fig. 1 showing the combustion chamber and the baille wall. r

Fig. 4 is a detail\ sectional elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing 'the curtain baille wall and the fire arch of the combustion chamber.'

Fig. 5 is a'cross sectional elevation online 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the -at discharge screen with its radialv slots.

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectional view on line 6-,6 /ol Fig. l through the discharge chamber and discharge scoop.

Fig. 7 is a, detail perspective view of one of the hat-shaped partition'screens removed from the retort.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical longitudinal section through the gas-tight Joint and feed means, runy described in -ourvpatent application Ser. No. u 452.879, filed May 418, 19'30.

Fig. 9 is a detail view'of the tumbling bodies or elements for heating, grinding the material, j and eieoring the retort walls.

'I'he parts will be identied by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the views.

1 is a cylindrical tumbling barrel retort'. It has tires 2, 2, one at each end supported upon rollers 3, 4 whereby the same may be readilyrotated. Cushion or thrust rollers 5, 5 (Fig. 1) re'- tain the tire at one end in position permitting the expansion and contraction of the retort in` the opposite direction.' 'Ihe body of the drum or retort is divided by means of transverse screen partitions 6, 7 and 8 into compartments 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. Elongated tumbling lugs 9 are disposed on the inner periphery of the wall of compari:- ments 1A and 1B in stepped relation to each other as seen particularly in compartment 1B. There are two sets of these lugs diametrically opposed so that in. the rotation of the drum the contents is continuously and evenly agitated thereby and an even application of power secured.

-Loose impact tumbling bodies 10, some globular, some angular, of cast iron or steel or other heat absorbing and conducting material (detailed in Fig. v9), are disposed in the compartments 1A and 1B to tumblejwiththe lumps of coal or carbonaceous material to insure movement, to pulverize thesame, to clean the walls of the retort and to clean each the other, and to distribute and transfer heat to the material.

The partitions 6 and il are hat-shaped with' continuous rims secured to the inner periphery of the drum and projecting toward the discharge end. The side portions of the so-called hatshaped part are provided with longitudinal comparatively narrow screen slots 61, '11 for the pas-' sage of the pulverized c oal or carbonaceous material. A iiat screen partition 8 (Fig. 5),is be,- V tween compartments 1C and 1D and contains radial screen slots 81 which are spaced from the periphery of thescreen, whereby a light layer of` pulverized material will be retained in the compartment 1C. In the compartment 1D and carried by the drum, is a scoop or dipper 11 for advancing the material into the central spiral coni veyor hereafter to be described.

The tumbimg borrel 1 is provided with. head 100 12 at its intake end and a head 13 at the dis` charge e'nd secured gas-tight'by suitable'means to thesaid drum or retort. 'I'he head 12- is provided with an axially extending hollow tubular hub or sleeve 14 which carries a flange collar 141 105 which is` embraced by a gas-tightrotary bearing 142 carried by the flexible diaphragm 143 (Fig. 8). 'I'he diaphragm is carried by the wall of Y mixing and discharge chamber 15.

A sprocket drive' connection 16. is secured to 11 the head 12. It is driven by the motor 1'7 having a variable and changeable speed gear connection 18,I whereby the drum or retort is rotated and driven at any speed desired or required. The details of the change speed are immaterial and are not shown. 19 is the feed hopper provided with a tubular feed spout 20, extending axially into retort 1 '(see Fig. 8). Avfeed screw 21 is in the feed'tub'e and is driven by sprocketA 22 on the shaft 23 extending through stufling box 24 at the end of the feed tube. rThis sprocket is driven by a variable speed motor 25 (see Fig. 1). A

It will be seen that when coal or carbonaceous material is introducedinto hopper 19 it will be advanced into the retort by the screw conveyor 21 (see Fig. 8): The speed of this conveyor is controlled so that there will be a mass of coal and material substantially plugging the tube 20 so that little or no gas will escape at that point. Gas can pass to expansion chamber 15 through the annular space between sleeve 14 and tube 20 from the retort. This chamber 15 is provided with gas inlet pipe 151 controlled by valve 152.

The head 13 at the opposite discharge end of the retort is provided with an extending tubular hub or sleeve 26 extending through a gas-tight joint 27 and discharges the volatiles from the retort. It is provided with a spiral conveyor 28 inside (see Fig. 6) to deliver the coke and solid matter yfrom the retort bythe combined action of the scoop or dipperv 11 and the conveyor a1- ready referred to.

29 is the furnace within which is disposed the revolving retort l sealed by suitable flange plates 30, 31 at each end. 32 is the fire chamber supplied With gas burner means at 33. Over this chamber there is an arch 34 of brick work containing openings 35 for the passage of the llame and heated products of combustion. These openings are controlled by placing bricks or slabs 36 of re clay over the openings to control the same. 37 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is a baille wall carried by the said arch 34 and partially surrounding the retort. 38 is a baille wall curtain or partition extending downwardly from the top of the furnace (see Fig. 4). 39 is a stack controlled by a butterfly damper 40 by which, it will be noted, the heated products of combustion pass upwardly at the right hand end of the furnace, as illustrated in Fig. 1, heating the chamber 1A with a very strong heat, thence curving over the top and downwardly, thence passing toward the left and downwardly, heating chamber 1B, thence under the curtain 38 and up and out at the stack 39, heating chamber 1C (the chamber 1D being heated indirectly), which shows'the manner in which the revolving retort is heated.

fil is a separating chamber provided with a vapor outlet 82. The solid material from the retort l is discharged into chamber il as before indicated. This chamber 4l is covered with insulation 42. It is provided with a bale 43 inside which causes coke and solid material to be delivered downwardly against the screen 44 (see The coke .and coarse material is passed out at discharge spout 45 above the screen to a pipe conveyor 46 with a conveyor screw 47 therein, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, driven from sprocket wheel 48. Pipe 46 delivers into the downwardly inclined pipe 49 which is closed by a weighted flaplid 50 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This delivers into a screw conveyor 51 to discharge the contents into a bin or to a re box or into a conveyor to be returned to the hopper 19 to be'mixed with the fresh supply of material being distilled, as desired.

The bottom of the chamber 41 terminates in a hopper 411 delivering into screw conveyori52 operated by the variable speed motor 53 (see Fig. 2) delivering into a combustion and gas converting chamber 54 (see Fig. 1A), the conveyor 52 and the chamber 41 being constructed of heat insulating material such as re brick gr fire clay or material of similar character. This is in effect a vertical flue for the passage of the materials for the manufacture of gas. Producer gas is here produced. 4

55 is a steam pipe delivering through nozzle 56 for delivering super-heated steam centrally and upwardly through the said gasification chamber or flue 54. 57 is a hot air connection for delivering (by blower or otherwise) `a regulated amount of hot air to be entrained by the steam through the contracted passage 541 at the bottom of the chamber 54. 58 is a laterally projecting pipe connection delivering to a dust collector 59 of the usual construction with ash bins 60 below and with a gas delivery pipe 601 out at the top of the said dust collector. The pipe 601 extends upwardly at 62 and is provided with a valve 63 so that it may be used as a purge pipe or purging outlet for the apparatus. Pipe 64 connects by T-connection to pipe601 and delivers downwardly and then laterally at 65 through 105 valve 66 to pipe 67 which supplies the burner 4structure 33 within the furnace. A gas pump 68 is in pipe 65. 69 is a riser pipe from pipe 65 and is. controlled by valve 70 and extends up- Wardly and forwardly to the forward part of 1l) the apparatus where the discharge of surplus gas is controlled by valve 701. A connection 72 leads to the top of chamber 41 from pipe 69 and is controlled by valve 73. Likewise a con nection from pipe 69 to expansion chamber 15 is 115 controlled by valve 152. Valves 73 and 152 provide for the mixing of the producer or water gas supplied by pipe 69 withthe gas produced by the primary distillation of the coal or other carbonaceous material in retort 1 as desired.

In the operation of this structure, coal in comparatively small lumps is introduced into lthe hopper 19 along with nes and the hopper is maintained partially lled, at least, to prevent the escape of any material amount of gas. Coal 125 is delivered by the conveyor inwardly and dropped into chamber 1A where it isat once heated by the strong current of hot gases from the combustion chamber. This heat is rapidly and efliciently transferred tc the coal as it is being broken up 136 by the heat conducting bodies 10, causing it at once to begin to discharge the yoia'tiles which pipe 26 to the chamber 41. Best *ned by heating 900 to 1256 degrees E .'zieit.

The contents agitated by the lugs 9 as the retort revolves and, owing to the incline of the retort, the solid material is advanced to the partition 6 and the fragments, with a .part of their/v volatiles, are discharged past the screen slots to 140 dust.

discontinued. There is such agitation as occurs from the revolving of the drum. It is the purpose to minimize the agitation at this point be' cause of the development of an undue amount of All of the volatiles that can be readily eliminated are driven oil at this point andlthe more or less spent powder which still contains a considerable quantity of volatiles and all of the fixed carbon is advanced to the chamber 41. Here the powder passes over screen 44. The coarse coke and material pass through the. discharge pipe 45 through pipe conveyor 46 past the sealing discharge-valve 50 to the conveyor 51. The fine coke land material are dropped into the bottom of chamber 41 into the hopper 411 formed a. the bottom, the heat being retained by the insulation, and the material is then passed through the insulated screw conveyor to the gasiljflcation chamber 54. As the hot coked carbonaceous material is discharged into the insulated chamber 54, it is blown upwardly by the Jet of superheated steam which'entrains a controlled amount of hot air and the whole is converted into producer gas which passes through the delivery pipe 58 to the dust separator 59 where the ash drops down to the bin 60 and the gas is carried forward into pipe 601. The gas thence passes through pipe 64 to the pump 68, and is delivered i by-products). It may be readily understood that either, or both, chamber 41 and retort 1 may be used as mixing chambers forthe lean and rich gases by control of valves 73 and 152. A gas of the desired or required heat value in B. t. u. is thereby delivered through outlet 81 to the con-L ventional condensing, scrubbing'and gas cleaning apparatus `and thence to a holder. l l

83 is an air inlet vent passage or opening into the side of the furnace towards its front end, controlled by a hinged damper 84 whichv is controlled by electric motor 85, conventionally shown. 86 is a butterfly damper valve in gas supply pipe 67 controlled by motor 87, also conventionally shown. 88 is a pyrometer. 39 is a thermostat associated therewith for controlling the said motors and 87, These are shown diagrammatically, as we use such instruments as we can buy.

If, for any reason, the supply of coal to the retort is cut off, the temperature will at once rise to a dangerous point. The pyrometer 88 is connected'to thermostatic control 89 to open the vent damper to admit cold air through the opening.

, 83 and to cut down the gas supply by controlling motor 87 that actuates valve 86. This is done automatically and protects the equipment from injury because of overheating.l The structures are the usual-stock articles and are shown conventionally.

We have shown our improved structure adapted to screen out coarse material and convert the fine material into producer or water gas, returning the coarse material to the feed hopper to be passed through the apparatus again with'fresh material.

of dust with Brazilian om and it is best not to grind it too ne. It is also desirable to leave some of the volatiles in the mass. Where this is done,

the screen to which we refer is. very desirable as it passesthe ilne material which can be very readily converted into producer or water gas.

.Of course, it is not necessary to mix the water gas and the producer vgas with the gas of high heat value that is first driven oiI, but it is entirely feasible to do so. It is best to use the producer or water gas in the furnace as there is an abundance of it.

The apparatus will handle any coal naceous material of any description.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for distilling coal and manufacturing the same into gas, the combination of aninclined rotary tumbling barrel retort having screen partitions thereacross dividing th'e same into compartments; the last screen toward the or carbodischarge end having a broad peripheral imperforatev band, a furnace with gas burner means surrounding the body of said retort containing an arch and baille walls disposed to deliver the products of combustion and circulate the same around the said retort, a gas-tight intake deliverytube into the head at the 'intake end of the said retort, a coal hopper having a pipe conveyor concentric of said rtube for advancing the coal into the retort, an expansion chamber having' a gas-tight joint at the intake end of the saidretort, engaging lugs y on the inner periphery of the said retort in the first of the compartments between the said'screen partitions, tumbling bodies, spherical and angular, of heat conducting material in the rst of said compartments and none in the last compartment, a hollow central trunnion at the coke discharge end of the said retort, including a helical conveyor blade therein, means' in the last com- ,partment of said retort to deliver pulverized material to the said conveyor, an insulated vertical separating chamber with a hopper bottom having a` valved intake pipe at thetop and a separate gas discharge passage at the top, a connection from the retort to receive the heated solids and gas from the said 'rotary retort, having a baiile and screen for separatingv the coarse solids from the fine and accumulating the nes in the hopper at thev bottom of said chamber, a pipe conveyor for advancing the coarse coked material having a gas-sealed ap valve at the end, an insulated pipe conveyor for the hopper at the bottom of said separating chamber, a vvertical insulated gasication chamber for the manufacture of gas connected to receive said flnes as they are A advanced, av superheated steam jet pipe delivering upwardly in the bottom of the said gasication chamber, a passage for the intake of a controlled ambunt of hot air to be entrained by'said steam jet, a discharge passage at the top of said gasification chamber, a dust collector, a purging outlet, a valved gas delivery pipe from the said dust collector, a gas pump in said delivery pipe, a valved branch connection from the said pipe to the burner means in the said furnace, and branch connections-to the top ofthe separating chamber and to the top of the expansion chamber to control the delivery and the mixing of the said gases.

2. In an apparatus for distilling coal and manufacturing the same into gas, the combination o! an inclined rotary tumbling barrel retort having screen partitions thereacross dividing the :same into compartments, the last screen toward thedischarge end having a broad peripheral imperforate band, a furnace with gas burner means Vsurrounding the body of said retort containing an arch and baiile walls disposed to. deliver the products of combustion and circulate the `same around the said retort, a gas-tight intake delivery tube into the head at the intake end of the said retort, a coal hopper having a pipe conveyor concentric of said tube for advancing the coal into the retort, an expansion chamber having a gastight joint at the intake end of the said retort, engaging lugs on the inner periphery of the said retort in the rst of the compartments between. the said screen partitions, tumbling bodies, spherical and angular, of heat conducting material in the first of said compartments and none in the last compartment, a hollow central trunnion at the coke discharge end of the said retort, including a helical conveyor blade therein, means in the last compartment of said retort to deliver pulverized material to the said conveyor, an insulated vertical separating chamber with a hopper bottom having a gas discharge passage at the top, a connection from the retort to receive the heated solids and gas from the said rotary retort, sealed conveyor means to deliver the solid material from said separating chamber, and means to deliver a current of gas into said retort to advance the volatiles through said apparatus.

3. In .an apparatus for distilling coal and man- I' ufacturing the same into gas, 'the combination of an inclined rotary tumbling barrel retort having screen partitions thereacross dividing the same into compartments, the last screen toward the discharge end having a broad peripheral imperforate band, a furnace with gas burner means surrounding the body of said retort containing an arch and baille Walls disposed to deliver the products of combustion and circulate the same around the said retort, a gas-tight intake delivery tube into the head at the intake end of the said retort, a coal hopper having a pipe conveyor concentric of said tube for advancing the coal into the retort, an expansion chamber having a gas-tight joint at the intake end of the saidretort, engaging lugs on the inner periphery of the said retort in the rst of the compartments between the said screen partitions, tumbling bodies, spherical and angular, of heat conducting material in the first of said compartments and none in the last compartment, a hollow central trunnion at the coke discharge end of the said retort, including a helical conveyor blade therein, means in the last compartment of said retort to deliver pulverized material to the said conveyor, an insulated vertical separating chamber with a hopper bottom having a gas discharge pas sage at the top, a connection from the retort to receive the heated solids and ges from the said rotary retort, and sealed conveyor means te y deliver the solid material from said separating chamber. i

4. In an apparatus for distilling coal and menufacturing the same into gas, the'coxnbination of an inclined rotary tumbling barrel retort divided intc compartments by screen partitions, the upper end being the feed end, the lower end the discharge, a furnace for externally heating thesame, an expansion chamber at the feed end ofv said retort having a gas-tight joint connection thereto, means of delivering coal into the feed end, engaging lugs in the vinner periphery or the feed endcompartments' of they said retort, heat conducting tumbling ybodies`within the compartments at the feed end of the said retort, an axial trunnion at the discharge end of said retort containing helical conveyor vanes, means of delivering the solids from said retort to the said conveyor, an insulated separating chamber connected to receive both the solid and volatile materials from the said retort, a gas delivery connection from the top of said retort, an insulated pipe conveyor from the bottom of said separating chamber, a vertical insulated gasication chamber for the manufacture of gas connected to receive the solids from said conveyor as they are advanced, a-superheated steam pipe jet delivering upwardly in the bottom of the gasification chamber, a passage for the intake of a controlled amount of hot air to be entrained by the said steam jet, means delivering the gas from the said chamber, and vconnections for delivering a part of said gas into the said retort to advance the volatiles.

5. In an apparatus for distilling coal and manufacturing the same into gas,4 the combination of an inclined rotary tumbling barrel retort divided into compartments by screen partitions, the upper end being the feed end, the lower end the discharge, a furnace for externally heating the same, an expansion chamberat the feed end e of said retort having a gas-tight joint connection thereto, means of delivering coal into the feed end, engaging lugs in the inner periphery of the feed end compartments of the said -retort, heat conducting tumbling bodies within the compartments at the feed end of the said retort, an axial trunnion at the discharge end of said retort containing helical conveyor vanes, means of delivering the solids from said retort to the said conveyor, an insulated separating chamber connected to receive both the solid and volatile materials from the said retort, a gas delivery connection from the top of said retort, an insulated pipe conveyor from the bottom of said separating chamber, a vertical insulated gasification chamber for the manufacture 'of gas connected to receive the solids from said conveyor as they are advanced, a superheated steam pipe jet delivering upwardly in the bottom of the said gasication chamber, a passage for the intake of a controlled amount of hot air to be entrained by the said steam jet, and means delivering the gas from the said chamber.

6. The process of distilling carbonaceous material, consisting in distilling the same in a tumbling barrel retort divided into successive compartments through which the material is delivered, heating the said material by external heat 13@ on the said retort and by heat conducting tumbling bodies within the mass of said coal to pulverize and advance the same, delivering both the pulverized solid material and distilled gas and vapors to a. separating chamber where the soiid materiad accumulates tij-f gravity in the bottom and the gas with volatile by-products is discharged, screening the solid material and deliv" ering the fines by a suitable conveyor to an upright gasmal-:ing chamber, delivering a'jet of 14@ superheated steam with entrained hot air upwardly through the floating particles of solid material to produce gas therefrom, separating the ash and dust from the last aforesaid gas, and delivering and circulating a part of the aforesaid 145 gas through the said retort to advance the said distilled gas and vapors quickly to the separating chamber.

7. The process of distilling carbonaceous material, consisting in distilling the same in a tum- 156 bling barrel retort divided into successive compartments through which-the material is delivered, heating the said material by external heat on the said retort and by heat conducting tumbling bodies within the mass of said coal to pulverize and advance the same, delivering both the pulverized solid material and distilled gas and vapors to a separating chamber where the solid material accumulates by gravity in the bottom and the gas with the volatile by-products is discharged, screening the solid material and de.- y livering the iines by a suitable conveyor t0 an upright gas-making chamber, delivering a jet of superheated steam with entrained hot air upmaterial to produce gas therefrom, and separating the ash and dust from the last aforesaid gas.

8. The process of distilling carbonaceous material, consisting in distilling the same in a tumbling barrel retort divided into successive compartments through which the material is delivered; heating the s'aid material by external heat on the said retort and by heat conducting tumbling bodies within the mass of said coal to pulverize and advance the same, delivering both the pulverized solid material and distilled gas and vapors to a separating chamber where the solid material accumulates by gravity in the bottom and the gas with the volatile by-products is discharged, delivering the solid material by a suit.- able conveyor to an uprightgas-making chamber, delivering a jet of superheated steam with entrained hot air upwardly through the floating particles of solid material to produce gas therefrom, and separating the ash and dust from vthe last aforesaid gas.

9. The process of distilling carbonaceous material, consisting in distilling the s'axne in a tumbling barrel retort divided into successive compartments through which the material is delivered, heating the said material by external heat on the said retort and by heat conducting tumbling bodies within the mass of said coal to pulverize the same, heating the same to from 900 to 1250 solid material and distilled gas and vapors to a *vardly through the floating particles of solid degrees Fahrenheit, holding the said pulverized material i'n the last compartment of said retort until the vapors volatile at the temperature employed are expelled, delivering both the pulverized separating chamber where the solid material accumulates by gravity in the bottom and the gas with the volatile by-products is discharged, screening the solid material and delivering the fines by a suitable conveyor to an upright gasmaking chamber, delivering a jet or superheated I steam upwardly through the floating mass, entraining hot air to make vproducer gas, sparating the dust from the last aforesaid gas, and delivering a part 'of the aforesaid gas through the said retort to advance the distilled gas and vapors quickly tothe separating chamber.

- 10. In an apparatus for distilling coal or the like, the combination of a rotary tumbling barrel retort, a furnace surrounding the same having passages to deliver heat at the feed end -of the said retort and pass the same alongthe said retort, and having an air intake vent aperture in the side of the said furnace with afdamperv 'to control the same, a gas burner means having a gas supply for the said furnace, a throttle valve in the said gas supply pipe, and a pyrometer extending into the said furnace in proximity to the said retort having a thermostat control for cut,

ting off the fuel and opening the vent damper. 11. In an apparatus for distilling coal or the like, the combination of a rotary tumbling barrel retort, a furnace. surrounding. the same having passages to deliver heat atV the feed end of the said retort and pass the samealong the said retort, 4and 'having an air intake vent aperture in the side of the said furnace with a damper to control the same, and a pyrometer extending into the said furnace invproximity to the said retort hav-l ing a thermostat control for opening the vent damper.

HARRY S. REED. RALPH D. LAlidIE.

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